Santa is coming to town... 13 places to visit the big man
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the chance to visit Santa before the big day.And here are some of the places where you can meet the man in red around Wales...
Pugh’s Garden Centre, Cardiff Take the whole family along for a truly magical and spellbinding adventure, Rudolph saves Christmas.
Tickets, costing £10 per child and £3 per adult, includes a 30-minute journey, with a chance to meet Santa, a free toy and more.
This year the centre is raising money to help support little lives at Ty Hafan, so, by visiting Santa at Pugh’s, both grown-ups and little ones will have donated towards the total. It runs from tomorrow and Sunday, and then from December 2 through to Christmas Eve. Where: Port Road, Wenvoe, CF5 65AD. Get in touch: Call 02920 598118 or visit ww.pughsgardencentre.co.uk/wenvoe/ visit-santa-in-wenvoe
Zoar’s Ark, Neath Walk through the magical ice kingdom to find Santa in his grotto, waiting with a surprise for each child.
Stay and play with Santa’s helpers, who will be on hand armed with children’s activities and festive movies.
The grotto is open every day from December 1, apart from Tuesdays. It costs £8 per child and adults can visit for free. Where: Bridge Street, Neath, SA11 1RP. Get in touch: Call 01639 642180 or visit www.zoarsark.co.uk
Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan See what magical memories you can make as you join Dyffryn Gardens’ magical 12 Days of Christmas trail.
Youngsters can visit Father Christmas and his elves too on December 9,10, 16 and 17 at a cost of £5 per child plus the normal admission prices apply. Where: St Nicholas, CF5 6SU. Get in touch: Call 02920 590813 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyffryngardens
Hamleys, Cardiff Join Father Christmas and his loveable elves for fun, magic and theatre at this very special time of year.
Children can take part in seasonal games and activities, spend time with the big man and receive an extra special gift bag to take home.
Father Christmas will be in Hamleys Cardiff on selected dates from tomorrow until Christmas Eve. Where: St David’s Centre, 46-48 Lower Grand Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 2EA. Get in touch: Call 02074 783606 or visit www.hamleys.com/mfc
Mumbles Pier, Swansea Why not visit Santa at the seaside Christmas Grotto and even pick your very own present from the elves’ workshop?
Each child will get the chance to complete their own personal Christmas letter before handing it to the jolly man himself when visiting his grotto, and then picking a present from the array of beautiful toys.
Or join the party at one of Santa’s breakfasts or tea parties. Tickets are £7.95 every Saturday and Sunday. Where: Mumbles Road, Mumbles, SA3 4EN. Get in touch: Call 01792 365200 or visit: www.mumbles-pier.co.uk/ christmas
SeaQuarium, Rhyl Santa is back at SeaQuarium from tomorrow until December 24, with bookings being taken.
Enjoy all the festive trimmings, music and even elves.
Admission includes access to the SeaQuarium, including all the exhibits, as well as the nine different zones and amazing outdoor Seal Cove, where you can meet the delightful harbour seals and see the Christmas-themed Seal Show.
The grotto is open from noon to 4pm, weekends from tomorrow and open daily from December 9 until Christmas Eve. Where: East Parade, Rhyl, LL183AF. Get in touch: Call 01745 344660 or visit www.seaquarium.co.uk
National Botanic Gardens, Carmarthenshire As well as Santa, the Christmas show has another very special star – Tinsel the Tawny Owl.
This year’s festive offering is put together in partnership with Pembrokeshire Falconry. At the end of the magical show in the garden’s Theatr Botanica, children get to meet Santa and receive a present.
It runs on December 9, 10, 16 and 27. Admission to the garden is £10.50 (including gift aid) for adults and £4.95 for children over five.
Entry is free for members and parking is free. Tickets to the show cost £3. Where: Middleton Hall, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire, SA32 8HN. Get in touch: Call 01558 667149 or visit botanicgarden.wales
Gwili Railway, Carmarthenshire Santa’s magical steam trains run every weekend from December 2 to 24. Trains go every 35 minutes, starting at 10am, with the last train at 3.15pm. On Christmas Eve the last train leaves at 1.30pm. Prices range from £5 to £15.75. Where: Bronwydd Arms Station, Bronwydd, Carmarthenshire, SA33 6HT. Get in touch: Call 01267 238213 or visit www.gwili-railway.co.uk
Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire This year, Santa and his reindeer will be stopping off at Pembrokeshire’s Folly Farm to spread festive cheer for all the family.
Every Saturday and Sunday until December 17, Santa’s Grotto will be open to visitors, where guests can meet the jolly man himself, his elves, and his real-life reindeer before they head off on their busy trip to deliver presents around the world.
Adults can get in the festive spirit, with mulled wine and mince pies available.
There will also be themed card hunts, prize trails and a festive show in the Follies Theatre, plus penguins, magical indoor vintage fairground rides, as well as other fun and games on the day.
Entry to Santa’s Grotto is £8.50 per child, which includes meeting Santa and a gift. Where: Folly Farm, Begelly, Kidgetty, Pembrokeshire, SA68 0XA. Get in touch: Go to folly-farm.co.uk 10. Llechwen Hall, Pontypridd For that perfect family get together, cosy on up at Llechwen Hall for Sunday lunch with Santa from £12.95 per person. And if you are on the nice list, Santa has promised a gift for every little boy and girl. He is even visiting on Christmas Eve, before he sets off on his busy night shift. Where: Llanfabon, near Pontypridd, CF37 4HP. Get in touch: Call 01443 742 050 or visit llechwen.co.uk/christmas 11. Milford Waterfront, Pembrokeshire Milford Waterfront will welcome Santa to his Grotto at Milford Haven Museum on Saturday, December 9 between 12pm and 4pm. Other activities during the day will include a Nutcracker King Trail, Christmas Pony Rides and appearances by The Snowman and The Snowdog. Where: Milford Haven Museum, Milford Waterfront, Milford Haven SA73 3AF. Get in touch: Call 01646 696360 or visit www.milfordwaterfront.co.uk 12. Principality Stadium, Cardiff The Welsh rugby stadium is welcoming youngsters and their parents to take a tour around the corridors and changing rooms of the iconic venue, where you can then meet Santa in his grotto. There’s also a free gift for the kids. It costs £12 under-16s and £6.50 for adults and runs from December 7 until Christmas Eve. Where: Principality Stadium, Westgate Street, Cardiff, CF10 1NS. Get in touch: Call 029 2082 2432. 13. St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff The museum is bringing back its Christmas Nights and there’s all sorts on offer for a traditional Welsh Christmas – including meeting Santa himself.
You’ll also find carol singing in the chapel, letter-writing to Santa in the schoolhouse and a brass band will be on site, playing festive tunes.
It’s £15 for adults and £8 for under16, under-twos go free. Where: St Fagans, Cardiff, CF5 6XB. Get in touch: 0300 111 2333.